250,000 minimum wage not feasible: Presidency

The Presidency emphasised on Sunday that the demand from Organised Labour for a minimum salary of N250,000 is not feasible, stating that the Federal Government cannot devote all of its resources to meeting this request.

Bayo Onanuga stressed that it is important for the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress to be mindful that the resources designated for all Nigerians should not be exclusively allocated for the advantage of their members, who constitute less than 10% of the total population, unless they are acting out of self-interest.

“That is why we keep telling labour to be realistic because the government cannot use all its resources to pay workers. They have other things to do. The workers we are even talking about are not up to 10 per cent of the population. Many people are self-employed or engaged in the private sector, who are not members of Labour, and are not affected by this demand.

“This is even more reason why labour has to reconsider their decision critically instead of always striving to shut down the system. What the FG did was in consultation with the private sector and others. Only Labour, which appears to be in the minority, kept saying they won’t accept N62,000. They are not even employers but employees.

“Let us wait and hear what they are going to say after their return from the ILO conference. But they have to be realistic.”

“I am not certain when he plans to do it (Bill).  May be after Sallah. But I am not sure whether the FG is meeting with them or whether its position on the minimum wage has changed. Don’t forget the current amount on the table was arrived at by the committee that also has the private sector where the NECA and NACIMMA were also represented.

“That was the figure the FG delegation, sub-nationals, employers, NECA and other sectors agreed on. So, the FG cannot just decide on any other amount of money on its own without carrying these people along. And the government cannot just decide anything without ensuring that the state and local governments are able to pay,” he stated.